Do you have questions? RCP’s SMEs have the answers. Information will be posted here for questions we often get from clients or discussions we have with regulators regarding interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: How can TaskOp help an Operator prepare for an audit? A: The TaskOp Audit module can streamline your audit preparation by…
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Did you know?
Ever driven a Skid Steer? Here’s your chance! In Katy, TX, Dig World offers an exciting experience where people of all ages can operate full-sized construction equipment. With school back in session, it’s the perfect time for your kids to jump into the driver’s seat of a Skid Steer or an Excavator. Dig World might…
The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In June 2024, PHMSA issued 3 NOAs, 6 NOPVs, and 5 WLs accompanied by $232,000 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following code sections:…
PHMSA Risk Ranking Index Modeling (RRIM) Webinar
On Wednesday, July 24 from 1pm to 2pm Eastern, PHMSA will be holding an informational webinar to provide an overview of their Risk Ranking Index Model (RRIM), the primary tool utilized by PHMSA on an annual basis to establish inspection schedules for pipeline systems throughout the country. The webinar is being held due to interest…
Did you know?
About the affordability of natural gas… At one-third of the cost of electricity, the cost savings of natural gas means real money that can be used for home repairs and upgrades, unplanned emergencies, and financial security. The decision to use natural gas in your home brings a variety of financial benefits and many see the difference…
Q&A Section
Do you have questions? RCP’s SMEs have the answers. Information will be posted here for questions we often get from clients or discussions we have with regulators regarding interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: What burial depths are pipelines required to maintain after installation? A: Pipeline installation burial depths are not a maintenance requirement. After…
The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In May 2024, PHMSA issued 6 NOAs, 8 NOPVs, 1 PSO, and 5 WLs accompanied by $413,800 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following…
Did you know?
In Katy, TX, there is an interactive park where people of all ages can operate full-sized construction equipment. That’s right! With summer here, Dig World is the perfect place for your kids to sit in the driver’s seat of a Skid Steer or an Excavator. RCP hosted a team-building event at Dig World, and the…
Gas Property Damage Reporting Threshold
Starting July 1, 2024, the property damage threshold for reporting gas pipeline incidents will be updated to $145,400, according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). This adjustment, mandated by procedures in Appendix A to 49 CFR Part 191, ensures that the threshold reflects current economic conditions. This update follows the “Pipeline Safety:…
Pipeline Safety Trust: Remembering 25 Years
June marks the anniversary of the tragic Olympic pipeline rupture in Bellingham, WA, which spilled nearly 250,000 gallons of gasoline into a local creek, ignited, and killed two boys and a young man. In response to this senseless tragedy, the community demanded change, leading to significant restoration of the creek and improvements in pipeline safety.…
Q&A Section
Do you have questions? RCP’s SMEs have the answers. Information will be posted here for questions we often get from clients or discussions we have with regulators regarding interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: What burial depths are pipelines required to maintain after installation? A: Pipeline installation burial depths are not a maintenance requirement. After…
The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In April 2024, PHMSA issued 5 NOAs, 3 NOPVs, and 9 WLs accompanied by $353,300 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following code sections:…
Did you know?
Natural gas is critical to maintaining electric reliability in the U.S. As the largest source of electricity in the United States, natural gas accounted for nearly 40% of the kilowatt hours of electricity produced in the U.S. in 2022. Some power plants use natural gas to power steam boilers, combustion turbines, or both, which then…
PHMSA Extends Public Comment Period for Proposed Pipeline Safety Measures
[Docket No.: PHMSA–2022–0085] PHMSA has extended the public comment period for a notice published on March 25, 2024 (89 FR 20751), which requested feedback on proposed changes to PHMSA forms. These changes aim to gather data on the use of rupture mitigation valves and blending hydrogen gas with other natural gases in pipelines. These adjustments…
Q&A Section
Do you have questions? RCP’s SMEs have the answers. Information will be posted here for questions we often get from clients or discussions we have with regulators regarding interpretations and pending regulatory deadlines. Q: To clarify, has there been a final approved and implemented requirement for Management of Change processes for DISTRIBUTION companies? A: No,…
The Enforcement Corner
The Enforcement Corner summarizes recent PHMSA enforcement actions, indicating where PHMSA is putting its enforcement efforts and the fines they are proposing for various types of violations. In March 2024, PHMSA issued 7 NOAs, 7 NOPVs, and 6 WLs accompanied by $353,300 in proposed fines. Significant proposed fines were attributed to the following code sections: …
AMPP Releases Guide 21569-2024: A Blueprint for Corrosion Control Compliance with PHMSA Regulations
AMPP’s latest release, Guide 21569-2024, offers a comprehensive roadmap for pipeline operators to align with PHMSA’s revised regulations on corrosion control. Developed by industry experts, this guide provides practical strategies for compliance with enhanced safety measures, benefiting both US and international gas transmission pipeline operators. It addresses critical aspects such as integrity management, repair criteria,…
PHMSA 49 CFR Parts 192 & 195 Periodic Updates to Final Rule
[Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0002; Amdt. Nos. 192-135, 195-107] In April of 2024, PHMSA sent “Pipeline Safety: Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to Technical Standards and Miscellaneous Amendments” to the Federal Register for publication of a final rule amending the Federal pipeline safety regulations to incorporate by reference all or parts of more than 20 new or…
PHMSA Extends Feedback Deadline for GPAC Public Meeting Proceedings
PHMSA has published the voting slides and transcripts from the March 25– 29 GPAC meeting, which covered the NPRM for Class Location Change Requirements and the NPRM for Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair. Those slides and meeting transcripts can be found here. On April 10, 2024, PHMSA extended the comment submission deadline for the…
Did you know?
The American pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors could not continue to operate as they do without natural gas and other petrochemicals. The loss of these vital feedstocks and energy sources would cripple the production of vital supplies, make sanitary care vastly harder, and raise the cost of pharmaceuticals for customers. Learn more about the critical role…